John Cena made his first appearance as Peacemaker in James Gunn’s 2021 movie The Suicide Squad before starring in the character‘s own HBO Max series, which premiered on January 13, 2022. The John Cena Peacemaker role follows Christopher Smith, a vigilante obsessed with achieving peace at any cost—including violence and death—making him a deeply complicated antihero rather than a typical superhero.
Interestingly, James Gunn disclosed on The Howard Stern Show that he originally created the Peacemaker character with WWE star Dave Bautista, known as Batista, in mind. Gunn crafted the role specifically for Batista, but due to scheduling conflicts and financial reasons, Bautista declined the part after being offered two better-paying films.
“I wrote the character of Peacemaker for him, and we offered him the role, but [he] was offered two movies, and we weren’t paying him a lot, so he had to go where the money was.” —James Gunn
After Bautista passed on the role, Gunn, who had admired Cena’s acting since his performance in Trainwreck, met with Cena and quickly recognized his suitability for Peacemaker.
Background on John Cena and Dave Bautista’s Wrestling and Acting Careers
Both John Cena and Dave Bautista transitioned from WWE wrestling into successful Hollywood careers during the late 2010s. Bautista officially retired from wrestling after his match against Triple H at WrestleMania 35 in April 2019, focusing full-time on acting with notable roles such as Drax the Destroyer in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy series.
John Cena entered the Hollywood scene in the 2000s, but his acting career gained significant momentum around 2010. He reduced his wrestling commitments in 2018, balancing film roles with occasional WWE appearances. Cena announced his WWE retirement in June 2025, effective by the end of that year.
Cena’s final in-ring performance is scheduled for the Saturday Night Main Event in Washington, D.C., yet WWE has kept his retirement match opponent a secret. Throughout his retirement tour, Cena has faced major wrestlers like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and CM Punk. His next match is set for Wrestlepalooza on September 20 against Brock Lesnar, marking a significant finale in his wrestling career.
Additional Recent Developments Within WWE and AEW
Triple H recently defended the WWE documentary series WWE Unreal against criticism, affirming its authenticity behind the scenes. Meanwhile, an 11-time WWE Champion has confirmed joining The Vision, one of WWE’s most prominent villain factions currently.
Jey Uso’s recent cryptic two-word message after WWE RAW has sparked speculation that he may have turned heel, altering his character’s alignment. On the AEW front, The Young Bucks are no longer struggling financially after a major victory on AEW Dynamite, further securing their position in the promotion.
Moreover, there are rumors of potential issues following the public release of holiday photos featuring Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. Don Callis made headlines by criticizing a former WWE talent for an unusual take on AEW TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher. Injuries continue to affect AEW stars, as one recently reported injury could sideline a wrestler for up to eight months after a recent return.
Upcoming Highlight Matches and WWE Announcements
Wrestlepalooza will feature a highly anticipated final showdown between John Cena and Brock Lesnar, as announced by Triple H. This match is expected to be a defining moment in Cena’s closing wrestling chapter and a major highlight for WWE fans, signaling the end of an era for one of wrestling’s biggest stars.
The significance of these developments illustrates ongoing transitions within WWE’s roster and storylines, while also showcasing John Cena’s evolution from wrestler to actor with his breakout role as Peacemaker, a character initially destined for Batista but ultimately tailored to Cena’s talents.
